FORMER world champion Steve Bendall reckons Joe Hayes can help him put Bournemouth on the boxing map.

The 31-year-old welterweight is one of the rising stars of Bendall's gym in Wallisdown.

He has had back-to-back victories and will aim to make it three wins out of three at the Camden Centre on Saturday, February 7.

Bendall has been training Hayes for the fight and has a wealth of hard-earned wisdom to pass on having won English and WBU world honours in his own ring career.

Bendall, a former top-class amateur who narrowly missed out on the Olympics, said: “I would like to think that with the knowledge I have, I can get the best out of Joe.

“I'm not saying he's going to be a world champion but I want him to be the best he can be.

“He's as strong as an ox, as fit as a fiddle and showed in his last fight that he can box to a game plan and that's a massive thing.

“I only trained Joe for three weeks for that fight, but he took in everything I told him and when he got in the ring, he didn't panic, he carried out the game plan.

“He's still a work in progress and at this stage of his career, I want to see an improvement in every fight. That's the most important thing.

“I believe I can make anyone a good fighter if they are prepared to work hard and listen - and Joe has shown he's willing to do that.”

Bendall also trains unbeaten duo Jake Gosling and MH Legg and hopes to stage a professional show in the town later this year.

“I want to put Bournemouth back on the boxing map,” he said. “There hasn't been a pro show in the town since 1988 but there's a lot of interest in boxing.”

Tickets for the show at the Camden Centre are available from 07855 942151.